The Hong Kong International Literary Festival (HKILF), launching on 2 – 11 November and celebrating its 18th year of sharing the love of reading in Hong Kong, has partnered with ride-sharing platform, Uber, to launch the #ShareABook campaign, placing hundreds of books in public places and Uber vehicles across the city to encourage reading and the sharing of some of the world’s best literature.

The ‘Share a Book’ campaign will be supported by a number of celebrities, including CR2 radio host, Jessica Ho, who will be sharing their favourite books in an Uber vehicle and leaving secret messages in the cover for its next owner.

Lucky riders and book hunters will also be in with a chance to win a pair of free entry tickets to the Hong Kong International Literary Festival Gala Dinner with Cheryl Strayed at China Club worth over HKD $2,600, simply by sharing a post on social media with a photo of a book they have shared/taken as part of the Share a Book campaign.*

Phillipa Milne, Director of The Hong Kong International Literary Festival, says that our appreciation of reading books all starts with the sharing of the literature that we love.

“We’re often made aware of an enthralling book by friends or family,” says Phillipa. “We’re encouraging the public to take this to the next level by sharing their favourite book in Uber vehicles and public places, placing a special sticker with the hashtag #ShareABook on the cover,that will be widely available for free in libraries, coffee shops and restaurants around Hong Kong.”

The book-sharing drive is in aid of HKILF’s annual event held over ten days (2 – 11 November) this autumn, featuring established and emerging writers from around the world in a programme that includes discussions, literary lunches and dinners, workshops, lectures, debates, book signings and readings.

This year the festival is being hosted in its new home, the Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts and will focus on feminism, LGBTQ+ issues and cover music, history, politics, science fiction, poetry and the environment.

Phillipa says that this will be one of the most diverse rosters of speakers in the history of the festival.